clarke



.(No ada. 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' C. L. CLARKE.

TELETHERMOMETER. No. 285,572. Patented Sept. 25, 1883.

By his mmmeys Che/{es L. Clarke,

(No Model.) 4 Shets-"Sheet 2.

OL L. CLARKE. TELETHBRMOMETER. N0. 285,572. Patented Sept. 25, 1883.

672 '1 1.6175 W79 3y '5 u/forncys w es 1 (U 9 JQWQ/WA (N0 Mfidel.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

O. L. CLARKE.

TELETHERMOMETER.

No. 285,572. Patented Sept..25, 1883.

WITNESSES 7 INVENTORY:

- C/z 1 1L6! -/L-. wig? By his .i'lforneys are) a,

N. PE. Ens. Photo-Ulhognpmr. Wilhington. D, c.

. contact-points of this device.

UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFIQE.

CHARLES OLARKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT HEWVITT,

' JR, OF SAME'PLACE.

TELETHERMOMETER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,572, dated September 25, 1883.

Application filed June 18, 1883. ,(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

-' Be it known that 1, CHARLES L CLARKE,

a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telethermometers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the arrangement of circuits and in the construction of apparatus for indicating at distant points the variations in temperature, atmospheric pressure, or other similar changing force, occurring in any particular locality, through the agency of electricity.

The object of the invention is to cause such indications to be made automatically and simultaneously with the occurrence of any change of an appreciable amount, to so or ganize the apparatus as to most economically apply the electrical energy employed, to pre: vent the more delicate parts of the instrument from becoming injured by constant use, and to secure perfect reliability of action.

The invention consists, generally, in combining with any suitable instrument adapted to respond to changesin temperature, pressnre, or other varying force, as the case may require, a circuit-closing device constructed to transmit to a suitable recording or indicating device electrical impulses of a character and frequency dependent upon the direction, rapidity, and amplitude of the movement of the thermostatic instrument, pressure-gage, or other equivalent device. The various parts of the apparatus are so constructed that, immediately upon the closing of a circuit bythe movement of the primal circuit-closing (le vice, an electro-magnet will be vitalized, causing a shunt-circuit to be completed around the This shunt-circuit remains closed until after a separation of the more delicate contact-points is effected, thereby insuring a more perfect circuit-connection, preventing it from being broken before it has vitalized the other magnets in circuit, and also preventing electrical discharges ries with the electro-magnet thus vitalized.

This electromagnet, however, is constructed to respond more slowly to the influence of an electric current transmitted therethrough, and

its armature is therefore actuated after the shunt-circuit has been closed. The movement of this armature causes a pawl to engage a ratchet-wheel upon which one of the circuitclosing points is carried. The backward movement of the armature, after the circuit through closed. The indicating or recording device is actuated correlatively with the movements of the transmitter by means .of a corresponding electro-magnet arranged in series with those of the transmitter, acting upon an armature, the movements of which cause the ad- Vance of a ratchet-wheel step by step, in the same manner as the ratchet-wheel of the transmitter is advanced. A suitable indicating device moving with that ratchet-wheel is employed for showing at all times the position of 7 5 the transmitting element. The interruption of the circuit is efiected after the electro-mag- .nets have all become vitalized by means of a pendent arm, which normally rests against a contact stop by virtue of its own weight.

The circuit is closed through this pendent arm and contact-point. The arm is, however,-so placed relative to one of the armatures that it will be momentarily thrown away from the contact-point when that armature is actuated. Before the circuit is again closed therethrough the circuit at the primal circuit-closer will have been opened and all the electro-magnets demagnetized. The. movements of the several parts in the opposite direction are efiected by 0 a system of electro-magnets precisely similar to those described, but acting to move the revolving parts in the opposite direction.

Various modifications may be made in the organization of the apparatus without substantially departing from'the invention.

The invention further involves certain de tails of constructiomwhich will be hereinafter fully set forth. In the accompanying drawings, which illus- 10o trate the invention, Figure 1 is a diagram showing the organization of the apparatus as I usually prefer to employ it. Fig. 2 illustrates one of the more important modifications of which it is susceptible. Fig. 3 represents a modification adapted to transmit the necessary impulses upon one line-wire, and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the pawl which I employ for actuating the ratchet-wheels of the mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detached view, illustrating the actual arrangement of apparatus; and Fig. 6 is a vertical crosssection of the mechanism of the transmitter.

Referring to the drawings, 0 represents a circuit closing arm which is adapted to be moved in one direction or the other under the influence of changes in temperatiu-e, pressure, (\zc. Mounted upon a sleeve, 0", which surrounds thearbor 0* of the arm 0, is a ratchetwheel, E. An arm, 0, extends from the sleeve 0 outward, and terminates in a contaet-point, 0, which is in the same plane with a contact-point, 0, carried at the outer extremity of the arm G. A similar ratchetwheel, E, also mounted upon the sleeve 0 carries a corresponding arm extending upon the opposite side of the arm 0. If, therefore, the arm 0 be moved in the one direction, the contact-point cwill be placed in electrical con tact with the point 0 at the end of the arm 0, and if it is moved in the opposite direction it will in like manner be placed in like cont-act with the point 0 carried at the end of the arm 0 G, is connected with the arm G,and thus with the point 0. The arm 0 is in like manner connected, through a conductor, 2, with one terminal of the coils of an electro-magnet, H. The remaining terminal of this coil is connected, through a conductor, 3, the coils of an electro-magnet, F, and conductor 4, with a conductor, L, constituting'a main line which leads to a receiving-station, or through any desired number of receiving stations. The arm 0 is in like manner connccted,through a conductor, 5, the coils of an electro-magnet, H conductor 6, and electro-magnet F, with a conductor, 7 leading to a mainline, L, corresponding to the line L. After. traversing the various devices at the receiving-stations in a manner hereinafter described, the conductors are connected with one pole of a battery, 0. The remaining pole of this battery is connected through a conductor, 15, with the earth at G It will be seen thus that whenever any change has occurred inthe position of the arm 0 (which, it may have been 0bserved,is capable of moving independently of the arm 0 and CF) to place the point 0 in contact with either the point 0 or c the circuit of the battery 0 will be completed through the various electromagnets H and F or H and F, as the case may be.

The electro-magnets H are constructed to respond more quickly to the effects of a current traversing their coils than are the electromagnets F. The first effect, therefore, of

A conductor, 1, leading from the earth at E or E and both the arms 0 and an electric current traversing either of the cir cuits indicated is to vitalize the corresponding eleetro magnet, H or H and cause its ar-.

mature h or 71. to be drawn forward. Two contact-points, 7L3 and it, are respectively carried at the extremities of these armatures, and when either is in its forward position the corresponding point impinges against one or the other of two circuit-closing springs, h or h. The spring If is connected through conductors 9 and 8with the conductor 1, leading to the arm 0, and the spring It is in like manner connected through the conductors 11 and 8 with the same conductor, 1. The armatures h and h are respectively connected with the con ductors 2 and 4,1eading to the electro-magneis It will be seen thus that immediately after either electro-magnet H or H has become vitalized a circuit will be closed through its coils (independently of the contact-points c) at the points h. This shunt-circuit will, as hereinafter appears, remain closed after the contact-points a have become separated, thereby preventing the occurrence of disruptive discharges at those points.

The electro-magnets F, which are preferably constructed to respond to stronger currents only than are required to Vitalize the electromagnets H, are respectively provided with an matures F and F and armature-levers F and F. These levers are pivoted upon suitable arbors, preferably in the same axial line or concentric with the wheels E. Each lever carries a pawl, f or f which, when the corresponding electro-magnet is vitalized, moves backward over the periphery of the corresponding wheel, E, and places it in a position to engage a tooth of the same. When the electromagnet has become dem'agnctized by the interruption of the circuit through the main line L or L the backward movement of the armature will cause the wheel E or E to ad- Vance through the distance represented by one tooth, carrying with it the remaining wheel The contact-points 0 will thus be separated, and will remain so until a subsequent movement of the arm 0 shall again place them in contact. The gradual diminution in the strength of the currents traversing the electro-magnets at the moment of or immediately after the interruption of the circuit at another point will permit the backward movement of the armature F or F before the armature h or If is re leased from its eleetro-magnet, owing to the less inductive effect produced upon the cores of the former than upon the cores of the latter by a current of given strength. In this man ner a shunt-circuit around the delicate contacts a will always be closed at the moment of interruption of the contacts at those pointsf The impulses which are thus transmitted through the conductors L or L are employed at the receiving-station to actuate an indicating device in the following manner:

- Two ratchet-wheels, N andN similar to the wheels E and E", and having their teeth pitched in opposite directions, are carried upon a com-.

mon arbor, 1). An index-finger, P, or other other correlatively with the movements of the points 0.

weight, against a stop, y.

wheels E by means of two pawls, a and of, carried upon the armature-levers m and m, respectively, of two electro-magnets, M and M The electro-magnets M are respectively included in the circuits of the main lines L U.

When an impulse of sufficient strength is transmitted upon either of these lines, the corresponding electro-magnet M or M will be vitalized and itsarmaturelever actuated. The corresponding pawl, n or n, will thereby be caused to engage a tooth upon the wheel N or N and when the armature is released by the interruption of the circuit and consequent demagnetization of the electro-magnet thewheel will be revolvedjn the same manner as de scribed with reference to the wheels E. The index P will thus be advanced in one direction or the other, according to the direction of motion of the arm 0.

The method of interrupting the circuit at the proper moment is as follows: A pendent arm, 1 normally rests, by virtue of its own This arm is electrically connected through a conductor, 13,with the coils of the electro-magnet M. The contact-stop g is connected through a conductor, 14, with the battery 0. A corresponding pendent arm, and stop 9* are provided for the electro-magnet M and is in like manner connected through conductors 16and17 and the coils of that magnet with the battery 0. Upon each of the armaturelevers is carried an extension. as shown at G and G. respectively. When either armature-lever is drawn into its forward position, this extension will strike against the corresponding pendent arm and throwit away from its contact-spring. Before it shall have had time to again fall into contact with. its contact-spring the armaturelever will have fallen away from the poles of its magnet, as also the armatures of the elec-- tro-magnets at the transmitting-station. The circuit will thus be in its normal condition that is to say, openbeing interrupted at the The pendent arms may, it is evident, be applied to various other electromagnets in the system, it being essential only that the circuits of the respective main lines should extend through them.

In Figs, 1 and 4 I have represented a pawl of peculiar construction which I prefer to em ploy for actuating the ratchet-wheel, although pawls of any well-known construction may be used. The construction of these pawls will be described in connection with that shown as applied to the armature-lever F. It consists of a flexible arm, f mounted upon the arm or extension G of the armature-lever F, and moving therewith. The resilience of this arm normally maintains its extremity f away from the teeth of the corresponding ratchetwheel. A pin, f projects laterally from the armf beneath a flexiblearm, f The arm f 6 is supported independently of the armature-lever, and its extremity normally rests upon a bedplate, f". When, however, the armature-1ever is swung in the direction indicated by the arrow, the pin f passes beneath the extremity of the arm f The return movement of the armature-lever will cause the pin f to slide upward over the curved extremity of the arm f thereby causing the extremity f to engage a tooth of the wheel E and advance the same the required distance. An indentation, f is formed in the arm f at the proper position to permit the pin f to fall downward when the wheel E has been advanced the required distance, thereby releasing the wheel from the pawl. Any suitable form of frictioirbrush may be employed for preventing the wheels from moving at other times than when positively actuated.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated an organization of circuits which is especially adapted to working over long distances. The general plan of this organization is to employlocal batteries and circuits for v-italizing the electro-magnets F and F? and M and M. For this purpose a local battery, 0, is provided at the transmitting-station and a similar battery, 0 at the receiving-station. One pole of the batter 0 is connected b 1 a conductor 18 -with two conductors, 19 and 20, respectively leading to the coils of the electro-magnets F and F". The remaining terminals of these coils are respectively connected through conductors 21 and 22 with the armaturelevers i" and r of two relay-magnets, R and The magnets R and R are respectively included in the conductors 3 and 6, leading from the shuntingmagnets H and H respectively, to the main lines L and L". The armaturelevers 1" andgr are respectively provided with contact-springs r and 1*, against which they impinge when in their forward position. These contact-springs are respectively,connected through conduct ors 23 and 24 with the remaining pole of the battery 0. It will be evident thus that when either electro-magnet R or R is vi'talized the circuit of the battery 0 will be completed through one or the other of the two electromagnets F or F. The electro-magnet thus vitalized will act through its armature-lever to tions are the same as described with reference toFig. 1. The electro-magnets M and M are,

however, included in branch circuits of the local battery 0, the connections of which are completedin precisely the same manner as described with reference to'the battery 0. It will be understood that as the only work required to be done by the electro-magnets R is to actuate their respective armatures, and thereby close the corresponding local circuit, a considerable saving in the expenditure of the current from the battery 0 is secured.

Any required number of receivers may be v included in series in this system, as also in that described with reference to Fig. 1. There should, however, preferably be but one pair of circuitinterrupters, 9, included in the system, and in general the electro-1nagnets to which these interrupters are applied should be less sensitive to electric currents than the other magnets of the system.

In Fig. 8 I have represented an organization of apparatus adapted to transmit the necessary impulses for actuating the indicating devices over a single main-line conductor. This modification consists in replacing the battery O by two batteries, 0 and O respectively included in the conductors 2 and 5, leading from the arms 0 and 0 These conduct ors, after traversing the coils of the shunting-magnets H and H", respectively, unite with a common mainline, L. The batteries 0 and O are so arranged that when the circuit of the one is completed a current will be transmitted to line of the opposite polarity from that which will be transmitted when the circuit of the other is completed. A polarized relay, REof well-known construction, is included in the main line L at the transmittingstation. ture-lever, r extending between two contactsprings, i and r Onepole of alocal battery, 0", is connected, by means of a conductor, 25, and branch conductors 26 and 27 through the coils of the two electro-magnets F and F respect ively, and thus with the two contact-springs 9-" and 1- respectively. The armature-lever 1- is connected by means of a conductor, 28, with the remaining pole of the battery 0". \Vhen, therefore, the armature lever 1- is against either one of the contact springs 1- or 1- a current will be transmitted from the local battery through the corresponding electro-magnet, F or F and the ratchet-wheels E will be actuated .in the manner described with reference to Fi 2. The parts are so arranged that when the circuit of the battery 0 is completed the armature-lever 9' will be impelled in the direction of the spring 0', thereby closing the circuit of the local battery 0 through the electrounagnet F. hen, however, the circuit of the battery 0 is completed, the circuit of the local battery 0 will be completed through the electromagnet F by the movement of the lever in the opposite direction.

At the receiving-station a second polarized relay, R, is included in the main line. -The armaturelever 1- of this relay acts in the same manner as described with reference to the re- This relay is provided with an armalay to complete the circuit of the battery 0* through one or the other of the two electromagnets M or M The parts are so arranged that the index P will be impelled in the direction corresponding with the movement of the arm 0. Suitable retractile springs, s, are applied to the armature-levers r and r,- for the purpose of maintaining them out of contact with their respective contact-springs when no current is traversing the line L".

The circuit-interrupters are preferably applied to the armature-levers of the electromagnets F and F of the transmitting-instrument in this organization, one being included in the conductor 2 and the other in the con ductor 5.

The shuntingunagnets H" and H should be' constructed to respond more quickly than the polarized relays; and the electro-inagnets M and M of the receiving-instruments should respond more quickly than the electro-magnets F and F", thereby insuring the movement of the index P before the circuit has been inter rupted by eitherof the devices 9.

Ihereby disclaim, so far as this specification and these Letters Patent are concerned, all inventions which are shown, described, and claimed or to be claimed in an application relating to the same subject-matter filed by me January 19, 1882, Serial No. 82,379, and which are not specifically claimed herein.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of an automatically-actuated circuit-closing arm, two contact-arms, one upon each side of the same, a battery having one pole connected with said circuit-closing arm and its remaining pole connected through in dependent conductors with said contact-arms, respectively, an electro-magnet included in each of said conductors, acting when vitalized to complete the circuit of said battery independently of said circuit-closing arm, two additional electrounagnets, likewise respectively included in said conductors, and acting when successively magnetized and demagnetized to effect the movement of said contact-arms in the direction of the movement of said circuit-closing arm.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with one or more indicating arms or fingers, of an automaticallyactuated circuit-closing arm, a contact-arm extending in proximity thereto, a battery having its opposite poles respectively connected with said circuitclosing and contact arms, three or more electro-magnets included in series in the circuit of said battery, one of said electro-magnets acting when it is vitalized to complete the circuit of the battery independently of said circuit-closing and said contact arms, a second of which electro-magnets acts to effect the movement of said contact-arm away from said circuit-closing arm, while the remaining one or more electromagnets effect the movement of said indicating arms or fingers correlatively with the movement of said contact-arm.

3. The combination, substantially as herein before set forth, of a battery, an automaticallyactuated cireuit-closing arm electrically connected with one pole of said battery, two contact-arms near said circuit-closing arm, which contact-arms are electrically connected with branch conductors leading to the remaining pole of said battery, two electro-magnet-s respectively included in said branch conductors, an armature and armature-lever applied to each of said Ielectro-magnets, each acting to move both of said contact-arms in the direction of motion of said circuit-closing arm whenever the movement of the latter has completed the circuit of said battery through the corresponding electro-magnet, two additional electromagnets respectively included in said branch conductors, an armature and armature-lever applied to each of the last-named electro-magnets, an index arm or finger actuated by the movements of l the last-named levers correlatively with the movements of said contactarms, and two circuit-interrupters applied to one pair or the other of said electro-magnets, and respectively included in said branch circuits, each of which circuit interrupters is caused by the movements of the corresponding armature-lever to momentarily interrupt the connections of the branch circuits in which it is included.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a revolving circuit-closing arm, one or more revolving contact-arms near said circuit-closing arm, a battery having one of its poles connected with said circuit-closing arm and its other pole connected with the said contact arm or arms, and an electro-magnet acting, when vitalized, to complete a shunt-circuit around said circuit-closing and contact arms, and to interrupt said shunt-circuit when 0 demagnetized. v

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of abattery, an automaticallyactuated circuit-closer, a series of electro-magnets included in the circuit of saidbattery, one of which electro-magnets is so constructed that its armature and armature-lever respond last in said series, and a circuit-interrupter included in said circuit, which is caused by the movements of said last actuated armature-le- 5o ver to interrupt the circuit of said battery af ter it has been completed by the action of said circuit-closer. J p 6. lhe combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, ofatoothed wheel, a battery, an electro-magnet, its armature and armature-lever, a resilient arm carried upon said lever, a pin projecting laterally from said arm, a sta tionary arm normally projecting above said pin, and a lateral opening formed in said sta- 6o tionary arm, whereby at each vibration of said armature said resilient arm is first caused to engage and advance said wheel and to be subsequently released therefrom. p

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub scribed my name this 15th day of June, A. D.

CHARLES L. CLARKE.

\Vitnesses: V p

DANIEL W. EDGEOOMB, MILLER O. EARL. 

